The European Commission designated Meta's WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This designation triggers stricter oversight.
The designation specifically applies to the "Channels" feature. WhatsApp Channels surpassed 45 million users in the European Union. Meta must comply with the new rules by mid-May 2026.
Under these enhanced obligations, Meta must assess and mitigate systemic risks associated with Channels. These risks include the dissemination of illegal content and election manipulation.
The EU Commission clarified that the DSA scope exempts WhatsApp's private messaging functions. The new regulations target only the public, one-to-many broadcasting feature.